CRT Power Wheelchair Accessories Cuts Averted

June 23, 2017

CRT Stakeholders and Friends,

Late today the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will NOT be applying Medicare Competitive Bid Program information to reduce payment rates for Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) Group 3 power wheelchair accessories. This averts significant cuts that were scheduled to go into effect July 1 and avoids drastic reductions in access to this specialized equipment.

This is great news people with disabilities who rely on CRT Group 3 power wheelchairs. Unfortunately, there was no change in payment rates for accessories used with CRT manual wheelchairs. But we will build on this victory and pursue relief from cuts to CRT manual accessories as we continue to work with Congress and CMS to protect CRT access.

A copy of the CMS announcement can be found here. CMS instructs providers to continue using the KU modifier for billing accessories furnished with CRT Group 3 power wheelchairs. There are no additional actions required for claims with dates of service on or after July 1.

Our thanks to HHS Secretary Tom Price and CMS Administrator Seema Verma for making this needed policy correction. We particularly thank CRT Champions Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Representatives Lee Zeldin (R-NY) and John Larson (D-CT) for their leadership and commitment to protect people with disabilities. Additional thanks to the leadership and staff of the Senate Finance, House Energy & Commerce, and House Ways & Means Committees who worked very hard to resolve this issue. Please take time next week to email your Members of Congress and thank them for their support.

This policy correction would never have happened without the dedication and collective advocacy work of the whole CRT community! Sincere thanks to all the consumers, disability organizations, clinicians, providers, manufacturers, and others who worked extremely hard to produce this outcome. It’s through CRT stakeholders coming together in even greater numbers that this was accomplished.

With your continued support and engagement, we will build on this win and work even harder to protect access to CRT on the federal, state, and private insurance levels.